183+ ‘Initial’ Writing Prompts
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First Vigilante Act
Write about your superhero’s first step into crime-fighting, and their emotions during this crucial phase.
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The Anti-Valentine’s Crusader
Craft a story of a character who is a notorious Valentine’s Day hater but ends up finding love in the…
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Monsoon Miracle
Write about a largely water-scarce town that experiences monsoon for the first time.
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Humbling Experiences
Reflect on a moment when you felt truly humbled, and detail the lessons you learned from it.
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First Day at School
Write about your first day at kindergarten, detailing your emotions, environment, and interactions with others.
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Hidden Depths
Write about a complex character who portrays a simple, unremarkable exterior, but hides an intricate, multifaceted personality within.
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Shattering Illusions
Write a dialogue that dramatically uncovers a bitter truth, shattering a character’s illusions.
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Witness to the Resurrection
Imagine yourself as a firsthand witness to the resurrection of Jesus and describe what you see, feel, and think.
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The Making of a Superhero
Write about the day your character discovered their powers for the first time.
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Collapse of Order
Write about the initial and rapid disintegration of societal structures during the zombie apocalypse.
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From Break-Up to Friendship
Write a story where a couples’ breakup leads them to a stronger friendship.
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Lost and Found
Craft a story where childhood sweethearts navigate a break-up early on and then find their way back to each other.
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The Reluctant Heroine
Write an origin story of a woman who never wanted to be a superhero but found herself in the role.
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Northern Lights Phenomenon
Describe the experience of witnessing the Northern Lights for the first time.
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Frozen Fear
Write a story about someone who gets lost during a furious winter snowstorm, and happens upon a seemingly abandoned winter…
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The Awakening
Describe the moment when your protagonist wakes up to find they have been turned into a vampire.
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Prompt Revision
Choose a fiction prompt you didn’t like or found hard to write. Rewrite this prompt and develop a story around…
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Mastering the Craft
Write a story about a character who is a novice writer using a mysterious, magical writing prompt.
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Breaking Down the Apocalypse
Write an intricate analysis of the different stages and patterns of a zombie apocalypse.
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The Beauty of Differences
Write about experiencing a cultural tradition foreign to your own and how that has shaped your view of the world.
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Riding the Emotional Wave
Transcribe your emotions into stanzas, beginning with the initial pain and ending with peace or acceptance.
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Embrace The Imperfection
Analyze a change that seemed unpleasant initially but eventually turned out to be a blessing.
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Conversations with Newton
Imagine you have a chance to have a conversation with physicist Sir Isaac Newton about his experiments with prisms and…
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Reflections on the Spectrum
Write about observing a rainbow for the first time, and your reaction to realizing the science behind this natural phenomenon.
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Coming Out of The Novel
Write a piece where a book lover finds unexpected love with the author of their favourite novel.
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The Journey of a Story
Recall a time you started writing based on a prompt and ended up with a story you didn’t anticipate.
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Leaves in Transition
Write about a leaf that changes its color from green to orange and falls. Explore the journey of the leaf…
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Mission: Bunkered Down
Write about the challenge of securing your home or a safe place during the first 24-hours.
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1. First Glance
Write about the significant moment when two characters fall in love with each other at first sight.
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Childhood Author’s Quill
If you could, how would you rewrite or alter the first short story you remember writing?
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Semantic Mirrors
Describe an event from your past from at least two different perspectives — your own perspective when the event happened…
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The Tranquility of Summer Mornings
Narrate a tranquil summer morning that you spent alone, focusing on your thoughts.
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Second Chances
Describe an instance when you were given a second chance and how you capitalized on it.
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Cultivating Compassion
Write a story about a person who shows kindness to someone they initially dislike.
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Lost in the Wild
Develop a tale of a city dweller navigating a wildlife safari after being separated from their tour group.
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Supernatural Subway
Imagine encountering a supernatural entity on a subway journey. Describe your encounter.
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Dragon’s Bargain
The princess offers herself to a dragon to secure her kingdom’s safety. How does she befriend it and change her…
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First Love Letter
Compose a letter to the person you fell in love with for the first time, letting them know how they…
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The Ever-Changing Sky
Write about the evolution of a summer sunset, from the initial decline of the sun until complete darkness.
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Cosplay Courtship
Write a story where the main characters meet and fall in love at a comic book convention.
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Pigs and Perspectives
Discuss an instance where your initial impression or prejudice about a person or thing proved to be wrong.
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Hidden Superpower
Imagine discovering you have a secret superpower; write a story detailing your first experiences with your newfound power.
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First Day Frights
Write about your first day at high school, detailing your expectations, nervousness, and experiences.
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The Cursed Artifact
Write about an artifact that curses its possessor and how the characters discover this and attempt to break the curse.
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Loving From Afar
Write a letter to the person you loved at first sight but never got the chance to express your feelings…
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First Glimpse
Write about the first time you saw a person who later became incredibly important to you.
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Modern Day Happily-Ever-After
Imagine that Cinderella, Snow White, or any other classic fairy tale character suddenly finds themselves in the modern world. Describe…
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Story Swap
Partner with a classmate and write a story where one person starts the story and the second person finishes it.
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Locked In The Dark
Write about someone getting locked in a completely dark room unknowingly. Outline their reactions, thoughts, and actions.
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The Ethical Algorithm
Create a world in which advanced AI are the ultimate enforcers of morality and law.
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Ancient Artifacts
Write about an archeologist discovering an ancient, otherworldly artifact, awakening ancient horrors as a result.
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Cirque Macabre
Imagine a deadly circus comes to town, its main attraction: a clown who collects smiles.
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The Noble Intention
Create a character who starts with noble intentions but descends into villainy. What derails them from their initial path?
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Irony of the Chosen One
Write a tale about you being selected as the Chosen One only to find out that the mission only requires…
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Unexpected Friendship
Write a short story focusing on the initial encounter between Han Solo and Chewbacca.
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Transatlantic Letters
Craft a series of letters between an Irish immigrant in America and a loved one left behind in Ireland.
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Making Friends from Foes
Write about a time when you made friends with someone you initially didn’t get along with.
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Accidental Adventure
Write about two friends who embark on an unplanned adventure, which ultimately catalyzes their transformation from friends to lovers.
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Solar System Secrets
Create a hypothesis about why Pluto was demoted from being a planet and write a conclusion based on your research.
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Mistletoe Memories
Write a story about an elderly couple reminiscing about how they fell in love under a mistletoe.
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The Kingdom’s Guardian
Narrate a story where a woman is the protector of an entire kingdom and its people.
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Historical Ripples
Write a short story that demonstrates how a historical event has impacted your main character’s family over the course of…
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Caught in the Gaze
Craft a story where a character is drawn into a stranger’s gaze across a crowded room.
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An Internal Nightmare
Imagine a character who can physically feel their dreams – specifically, their nightmares. Explore this terrifying phenomenon.
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Tropical Solitude
Imagine being marooned on a tropical island. How would you survive and utilize the resources around you?
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Island Discovery
Create a story about finding an uninhabited tropical island and envisioning your unique paradise.
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Lesson from Loss
Write about a significant loss you experienced and what you have learned from that process.
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Dragon Trainer’s Diary
Write a series of diary entries from a Dragon Trainer throughout different crucial stages of a dragon’s growth.
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Laboratory Error
Write about a deadly strain that was accidentally released during a routine study in a laboratory.
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No Warning
A small town suddenly finds itself disconnected from the rest of the world by an invisible barrier.
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Switching Allegiances
Imagine a character embroiled in a conflict where they must decide to uphold their initial beliefs or switch sides.
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Zero Hour
Write a narrative recounting the first 24 hours of a global zombie outbreak from the viewpoint of a central authority…
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“A Day in the Life of a Raindrop”
Imagine you are a raindrop falling from the sky and describe your journey till you reach the ground.
